Kuki woke up with someone shaking her, she mumbled. "Five more minutes Mushi," and put the blanket over her head to ignore Mushi.
Her mom ripped the sheets off her body and said. "Kuki get up, it's 11 in the morning."
Kuki shot out of bed and quickly put on her shirt. "Why didn't anyone get me up? What happened to the birds?" once she put on her shirt she tried to put on her shoes.
Her mom hid a laugh. "Kuki, you don't have to rush."
She looked at her mom like she was crazy as she finally put on the other shoe. "Are you kidding? You have work and I'm three hours late for school!"
Genki grabbed her shoulder. "Calm down Kuki-chan. I called school and let them know you're not going and I shooed away the birds. I called work and told them I'm not coming in."
Kuki widened her eyes, she couldn't believe her mom canceled work just to do- what was it exactly? She asked. "But why did you take time off?"
Her mom said excitedly. "Because you're finally going to the dance! I'm so happy you got a date!" her mom was more than happy to hear once Kuki got home that she finally had a date, going to the dance, and had a friend. Even her dad was happy about it, even if it was a boy.
Kuki smiled. "Thanks, but that's no reason to keep me home from school."
Her mom shook her head. "Yes, it is, we have to buy your dress. I took the time off because I'm going to do your hair and makeup. Get ready, we have lots to do."
Before her mom left, Kuki said. "But I'm not being picked up till 7."
Her mom replied not looking back. "Exactly!" her mom must know exactly what to do, Kuki followed her. "I'm ready to go anyways." sure she didn't brush her teeth, but she didn't have breakfast. They'll pick up something to eat along the way.
Her mom couldn't help but laugh at this. "You have no pants Kuki-chan."
Kuki looked down in disbelief and embarrassment, she had everything on but her pants. How could she not have noticed? She yelled before closing her door. "That's so embarrassing!"
Once she got ready, Kuki and her mom went into a really pricy dress store where they had the most beautiful dresses. There were total sequined ones to laced, from mermaid tail dresses to frilly ones, it was like dress heaven. Genki pointed toward a blue one that looked like something that the tooth fairy would wear. "How about this one Kuki?" and looked at the price tag.
Kuki widened her eyes. "No way. Besides for the spring fling, it's kind of like a ball. You have to look nice and dresses have to lower then the knee."
Her mom nodded and continued to look around, some of them were really pretty but were too short, and some were nice length but either skin tight or just were crazy with something! After about a hour of trying on several dresses, Kuki finally pleaded. "Mom, there's nothing here let's just go."
Her mom called. "There's one more I want you to try on!"
She groaned until her mom pulled the dress, it was long, flowy, not too busy, and it was orange- Wally's favorite color, her mom smiled. "Try it on, they have it in your size," and gave it to her.
Kuki tried it on, it just looked beautiful on her. Her favorite color was green, but orange will have to do. Even though she wanted it really bad, she knew once Wally saw her, he would never let her live it down that she wore his favorite color. She came out slowly with her mom just gasping. "You look beautiful!"
"Thanks mom, but we can't get it. It's $320," she showed her the price tag.
Her mom shrugged. "That makes up for all those years that we haven't bought you a dress. We're getting it."
Kuki couldn't say anything, she opened her mouth then closed it not being able to get her words out. She just went back in and took off her dress to buy it. Once they were at the register she nudged her mom. "It's okay, really. I can settle for a $50 dollar dress."
"No way. I want this boy to be in awe when he see's you," her mom got out her wallet and handed the money toward the cashier. Once as the lady gave back her money, she wrapped the dress and said. "Thank you, have a nice day!" with a fake smile plastered on her face.
After they left, they went immediately to the house. Her mom dragged Kuki to the master bathroom where she gladly did the hair and makeup. As she was finished, Kuki looked really good with her hair in curls and a touch of glitter. Her makeup was natural with just lip gloss and silver eye shadow with some silver gems on the side of her eyes. Sure Kuki didn't like the gems but it did make her look good! Kuki looked at her clock, 4 o'clock. What was she going to do for 3 hours? Her book! She looked around for her book and finally found it under her clothes she took off before she went to bed last night. To be more comfortable, she took off the dress and gems by her eyes and laid in bed with the book. She opened it up and just imagined herself as the character in the book and was sucked in the plot immediatly.
Her mom called her and said. "Kuki are you ready? Your date will be here in five minutes!" Kuki looked the clock. Time flies when you like to read! She panicked and put on her dress, hid her undergarments, and put on her fake diamond and silver high heels so she was able to this time make eye to eye with Wally.
She heard the bell and Kuki quickly went toward the mirror to check her teeth- no food. Her hair- perfect. Her makeup- no smudges. She took a look at herself and sighed leaning on the sink, she told herself. "You're going to the Spring Fling with Wally. I can't believe I'm doing this..."
She heard her mom yell. "Kuki-chan! Didn't you hear the door bell? Your date is here!"
Kuki yelled from the bathroom. "He's not my date! He's just a friend!" but why did Kuki want to take back what she said? Oh yeah, she was in love with him. She looked at the window, maybe she could get out of this. She opened it up, and climbed on the toilet and felt the spring breeze flow through her hair. She leaned against the frame of the window, what was she thinking? Maybe she was going nuts, how could she be so afraid of going to the dance? She thought about it, the ridicule, the sneers, maybe the pranks? The torture it'll be!
She had to go down, even if she just left how could she do that to Wally? Her parents? It would be awful. She slowly opened the door and went toward the stairs, she slowly descended the stairs and each stair she could see more and more people. She finally saw Wally talking to her mom and- dad? What was he doing home so early? When she finally made the last step she asked her dad. "What are you doing home early?" and hugged him tight.
She let go of Kani and Wally could only see her backside, but Kani smiled like he was ready to cry. "You look beautiful."
She smiled. "Thanks daddy, just wait till I get married," and rubbed his arm. Her parents were emotional people so of course they would love to see Kuki off to the dance for the first time.
Kuki finally turned around, her mom smiled and Wally just smirked, she could tell what he was thinking. The orange dress, and what was this? He was wearing a green tie, her favorite color. Genki motioned toward the fireplace. "Let's take pictures over there!" and they stood there and smiled, while taking pictures he whispered. "A orange dress, huh?"
She pinched his arm which made him wince a little. "You're one to talk, a green tie and all."
He asked confused. "What are you talking about?"
"Green's my favorite color you know," they were done taking pictures he looked at his tie.
He shrugged. "Pure coincidence. I don't know what you're talking about."
She nudged him. "Whatever, can we just go?" he nodded and they just left getting in the front of the car. Once he turned into the parking lot, he stopped the car. he showed her a corsage. "I forget this in the car, let me put it on," and he put it on her wrist making her heart beating faster and faster.
She looked up. "I didn't get you a flower though." Not that she forgot, it was just that she didn't know if you did when you were going with just as freinds.
He bit his cheek trying to hid his smile. "I don't care, flowers are for girls," he was thinking that apparently she does care.
She went red and said. "Let's just go," and opened the door, but Wally grabbed her door handle and closed it. "Your face is red!"
"No, it's not." She tried to hide her face, ugh this was just so horrible.
"Yes, it is, let's see if this helps... You look really beautiful," he grinned as he saw her face getting redder. He laughed as she looked rather angry.
She yelled. "Wally! You are a idiot, take me home!" she demanded and put her seat belt on.
He unbuckled her. "Alright, I'm sorry. We are just barely friends and you are my date-"
She interrupted him. "I'm not your date, I'm just a friend your going with," she said sternly.
He rolled his eyes. "Will you relax for one night? Just dance and have fun, plus, you really do look pretty," he went out his door and opened her door and held out his hand smiling at her with his eyebrows raised, showing to give him a chance.
She crossed her arms and held her nose in the air to show her stubbornness, she said again. "Take me home. This isn't worth it going in with you."
He looked at her hurt then asked. "Please?" he seemed so sweet to her now compared to just a minute ago.
She looked at his expression and felt actually bad, she unfolded her arms and gladly took his hand to step down to walk inside. She panicked once they were at the front door. "do you have tickets?"
He pulled them out. "Yeah, just got them today at lunch. Where were you today?" he was thinking of the answer actually.
"My mom made me go dress shopping with her. I still can't believe my parents like you, you lied when you said you weren't good with parents."
He looked at her like she was crazy. "Are you kidding? I didn't call your dad, sir, I didn't bring in your flower, I didn't make 'small talk', it was awful!" he acted like her parents hated him.
She laughed. "Wally you can't be serious, you were a perfect gentleman! And that's the first considering most of the time you aren't."
He nudged her. "Har har har, very funny," then he whispered in her ear that just made the heat rush in her face. "By the way, I already knew your favorite color was green. I was just teasing you."
She looked mad for a second then smirked and said. "Don't test me, Beetles, this is my first dance and I'm walking in with you. Right now I'm on the edge."
He raised his eyebrows. "So last name basis again, huh? Did I drop the friend level?" he was though nervous inside, he wanted to be friends with her of course, but just the way this girl was going he had no idea whether she made him a enemy or not.
She grabbed her ticket. "You're on a very thin line, we'll see how this night lasts," they handed their tickets to the lady and once they walked in people were staring at them just motionless.
People were whispering about them, some people even said. "Defiantly voodoo," while some just glared at her, she tugged his sleeve. "Wally, I'm not sure I want to do this."
He looked around then dragged her to the dance floor where he twirled her out then back in with a dip, she was speechless on his dancing, he grinned. "Speechless? I have that affect on girls."
She couldn't help but smile a little. "You are so conceded, I still can't believe I'm here with you."
He brought her back up. "And yet here we are," with their faces just inches from each other. He put his arms on her waist while she draped her arms on his shoulders, soon they began to slow dance.
She looked amazed. "I can't believe you can dance."
He twirled her. "There's a lot of stuff you don't know about me," and brought her back to him, he whispered. "You know the team captain's of the varsity teams and their dates begin the first waltz."
She giggled. "Waltz? You're joking right?"
He shook his head. "Sadly no, I have to do it. But you'll be fine, all right? All eyes on you."
She was uncertain, could she do it? All eyes on her and him and for once, not just him, she swallowed. "I guess."
He smiled. "Good, because the first waltz will be really soon and I don't want you messing it up," he teased.
She purposely stepped on his foot with him wincing. "Ow!" she looked down and pretended to look sorry.
She fake gasped and said sarcastically. "Oh, Wally! I'm so sorry, I guess I just misstepped. Hopefully that won't happen, my oopsie!" then she looked confused, my oopsie? Where did that come from?
He couldn't be mad, no way. If it was with another girl he probably would've traded partners, but actually was having fun playing around with her and all. Suddenly, Principal Smelling said, "will we have the varsity team captains and their dates come do the first waltz?"
He grabbed her hand and everyone made a circle with their pair and once the music went on they danced. Kuki's hands shook- heck, her whole body shook with nervousness. He looked amused. "Nervous, Sanban?"
She hissed. "Shut it, Beetles," as they were dancing the whispers were being heard like, "is that the freak with Wally Beetles?" or "what are they doing together?" and sometimes "the freak looks actually hot."
He whispered in her ear. "Don't forget to be light."
When she was about to ask what he meant, he picked her up and quickly spun her in the air with her giggling. "That was actually fun!"
He smiled. "Good, it's supposed to be."
She suddenly looked away from his face feeling suddenly a wave of sadness, he looked concerned. "Now you're having a crappy time."
She asked softly. "Do you think that we'd ever be friends even without the assignment and all?"
He just stared at her, that was a good question, but how was he going to answer it? He just told her the truth with a sigh. "If you want my honest opinion, I don't think so," she looked away trying to hid her tears forming in her eyes. He quickly spun her in the air making her look at him with him saying, "But I'm glad we did," which made her smile from ear to ear. Then they just danced in silence with only their eyes looked on each other's, with mostly Wally looking at how her eye shadow brought out her pretty violet eyes and how her lip gloss accentuated her lips.
The whole time her was thinking. "This is a situation I thought I'd never be in, it's strange really. Like how her dress could make a mess (that rhymed!) and make her look nothing less than beautiful to me. It's like my eyes have been transfigured, something deep inside me has changed. They've been opened wide but see this could mean one thing- danger. I think I'm falling in love Kuki Sanban, yes, I said falling in love! But what the hell is this? What do you expect me to say about her? I really don't care about her. It's just a little make up- Wally, wake up! I mean after all she is the- HOTTEST GIRL I'VE EVER SEEN! Where did that come from? But now she's like a girl I've never seen, I really don't know why I'd ever been so mean. Just remember, Wally, that this could just mean danger. But at the same time I think I'm falling in love with Kuki, yes her, our school freak. I wanna let her know, I feel so queasy, though I can't let it show. (That rhymed a little too much) she'd just laugh, I know it. C'mon, Wally, you got to let it go! What the hell is this? I want to wake up now, that I've been wrong. She's the HOTTEST GIRL I'VE EVER SEEN! Yes, I've said that, but how could you go on looking like that? Ugh, I honestly don't know why I've ever been so mean, because now she's like a girl I've never seen. With her I can just open up to her, talk to her, and even tease with her! okay this is now defiantly danger, now I'm saying stuff that I like about her! I could be falling in love with her- no I'm defiantly falling in love with her."
Finally once it was over, they walked away from the dance floor while pushing past all the confused looks on people. They were about away until suddenly they heard a "hey!" from Tina, Steve-O, Fanny, Patton, and worst of all- Ace.
Everyone had a smile on their face but Ace, he asked. "You didn't call or text, I look like an idiot going stag."
Wally teased. "No no, just a small idiot."
Ace faked a laugh but still held his frown, Tina immediately changed the subject. "Glad to see you're coming, with Kuki." She smiled at Kuki but for some reason Kuki looked nervous, like a bomb was going to go off or something.
Fanny gave Kuki a dirty look and spat. "Nice knockoff."
Wally stepped forward. "Nice hair, let me guess- the dead raccoon from down the road."
Fanny gasped and gave Wally a death glare while Patton seemly enjoyed it, Fanny yelled at him. "Tell him to knock it off!"
Patton acted like he was upset. "That's my girlfriend you know! We- we are going to walk off!" and dragged Fanny away before she could do anything else.
Kuki couldn't help but stare at Tina's dress which was long and black but cut up all the way to her upper thigh with one of the legs showing off a beautiful pink flower, it hugged her perfect figure and showed her amazing legs. Tina looked back a little creeped out and said trying to sound nice for the sake of Wally. "Can I help you?"
Kuki felt embarrassed. "Your dress is so pretty."
Tina smiled. "Thanks, you look amazing in your dress too."
Ace on the other hand was basically drooling at both girls, Steve-O said. "See you guys, got to dance with my date."
Wally asked not believing what he just said. "Did you just say date?"
Tina grabbed Steve-O's shoulder. "I can't believe you didn't tell Wally that we were going together."
Steve-O had a evil smile. "I wanted to surprise Wally, like he is now."
Wally shook his head and laughed toward Steve-O. "Yeah, but your you and she's she!"
Ace stopped Wally. "That's kind of like a insult to your date."
Wally glared at Ace while Ace did nothing, acting like it was nothing, Kuki said quietly. "It's fine."
Wally looked at Kuki then felt bad, he said. "I didn't mean that I'd prefer Tina, I just meant that's she really- um-"
Ace said quickly. "Hot," which earned a glare from everyone but Kuki, Kuki just stared at the floor really uncomfortable.
Wally muttered. "I'm getting a drink," and walked away leaving Kuki alone with his friends.
Tina piped up from the awkwardness. "You and Wally looked really good together there during the waltz."
Kuki said softly. "Thanks, but we're not really a couple."
Tina looked bummed. "I know, it's a shame really," making Kuki to look up in shock.
Steve-O offered his hand toward Tina. "Can I have this dance?"
Tina smiled. "You may," until she realized Kuki would be alone with Ace. She put her soft hands that held her long nails on Kuki's shoulder. "Will you be fine?"
Kuki wasn't even sure if she would be, but didn't want to ruin their fun and nodded. Tina left with a worried look, but still danced with Steve-O. Ace then said, "then there were two..."
Kuki now was able to talk to Ace, she can put up with this guy. She looked at him with a frown on her face. "Until Wally comes back."
He came up to her. "Look, I've been a jerk and I'm sorry. I shouldn't have started those rumors."
She glared at him. "Just because you didn't get your way."
He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair and said. "I know. Look, you were really sweet at the beach and I just treated you awfully and just you make me feel worse and worse each time I see you."
She was suddenly intrigued. She wasn't sure if he meant it or not, but if he was, then she should at least listen, he continued. "and now you show up looking like you do and now I need to get these words out- I'm sorry."
He's sorry? Kuki couldn't believe her ears, it wasn't like Ace to just apologize so she just took it. He asked with sorrow in his eyes. "You forgive me?"
She crossed her arms. "If I don't? Will you whine like last time?"
He seemed frustrated. "No! Will you just forgive me?"
She bit her cheek and tried to look away, she nodded. Why did she feel like she'd regret it though? He smiled. "That's a relief," he looked around. "I see that your date ditched you."
She looked around and no Wally, she sighed. Figures, he offered his hand. "Want to dance?"
She looked at him unsure for a second and hesitated, he smiled. "I don't bite, unless you want me to."
She laughed. "I see where Wally shares the other half of his brain."
He laughed. "Nice comeback, how could Wally stand you?"
She took his hand. "We survived, somehow," how was she being nice to this kid now? It was a crazy 2 weeks.
They went toward the dance floor and danced slowly together. Wally came back to the spot and had no idea where she went, he searched the lobby, the crowd, and even called her name in the girls bathroom. Great, he lost his date. Meanwhile, she felt so close to Ace. She wasn't falling for Ace, no no, but saw him like a friend all of a sudden, but knew she was going in deep. He looked at her. "Why all of a sudden having a liking?"
She poked his chest. "Don't get arrogant too Ace, I barely forgave you."
He smirked. "I know and for that I am really grateful."
Once they ended dancing, he kissed her hand that made her go red, she pulled back and coughed. "Wow, Ace."
He wiggled his eyebrows. "You just never quite knew me."
She was stepping back. "I should go back to Wally."
He stepped forward. "He ditched you, though."
She looked down at her feet, she knew she shouldn't have came. The guy that she loved ditched her, she was just so confused right now! He came closer to her and raised her chin to meet eye to eye with he,r and whispered. "But I won't," and kissed her on the lips.
She widened her eyes but then suddenly closed her eyes, how was she kissing Ace? She liked Wally, but now she wasn't sure. Her emotions were just all messed up and just let herself go, thanks to Wally… stupid Wally. She realized what she was doing and let go in shock and barely managed to say. "Ace-"
Ace was suddenly shoved against the wall with Wally having the look of death in his eye, and his teeth and fists clenched. Ace glared at Wally while he was nailed against the wall, he seemed cool about this suddenly. Kuki shouted in panick. "Wally! Let him go!"
He didn't listen of course and hissed at Ace. "Why? You don't like her, you want to hurt her?"
Ace replied sternly. "Who said I never like her? I finally became a man and said sorry, did you?"
Wally spat. "Of course I did! You just did it to hurt her, confuse her!"
Ace said again sternly trying to be a rock. "No, you ditched her. I danced with her making her have a good time."
Wally yelled. "I did not ditch her! I went to leave our group since you made me look bad in front of Kuki!"
Ace snapped. "A real man would've said something back."
Wally pushed him away from the wall and they stood there glaring each other, Kuki begged Wally. "Let's just go. You're just causing attention!"
He ignored her and just glared at Ace not backing down, Ace said. "Listen to Kuki, Wally. Don't want to cause attention even though you've been making the whole school to notice you two."
Wally suddenly pulled back his hand with Kuki screaming. "Wally!" but the thing was, Wally didn't hit Ace, he saw that Ace was unaffected. He looked with worry at what he hit, he saw Kuki between Ace and him. She just stared at him in shock and her mouth slightly agape before her eyes rolled back in her head and fell back in Ace's arms making everything turning black and people screaming. Oh crap, Wally just knocked out Kuki!